Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero has filled the vacancy on the airport authority created by the resignation of Gwen McKenzie, who was elected to City Council last December. It took Rogero almost five months to find Ursula Bailey, a Knoxville attorney, who lives in West Knoxville on Chatham Circle. It is a good choice and retains minority representation on the authority.

Bailey will serve the unexpired portion of McKenzie’s term until June 2019, when she is likely to be reappointed. South Knoxville resident Brian Simmons, vice chair, was reappointed for a full term, which ends in June 2025.

Next KPD chief could be a woman

City Police Chief David Rausch is one of three finalists for TBI director. He is considered the favorite unless he has a meltdown (unlikely) in his interview with Gov. Bill Haslam.

Rogero will name the new police chief. Two women – Eve Thomas and Cindy Gass – serve as deputy chiefs, and the odds are one of them will be picked by Rogero. She is eager to appoint the first female police chief for Knoxville. This could all happen by the end of June.

Race for Congress takes an interesting turn at Knoxville Truman Day dinner

The Democratic race for Congress between Renee Hoyos and Josh Williams took an interesting turn at the recent Truman Day dinner in Knoxville when Williams, during the time allotted to him for remarks, rewrote a Woody Guthrie song and played a guitar on his turn at the podium. Many in the audience simply did not know what to make of it. Perplexed might be an accurate description.

Hoyos, although not as musical, appears to have the edge on Williams in what will be a low turnout in the Aug. 2 primary. Total Democratic votes in the Second Congressional District may reach 26,000, while the GOP primary – with strongly contested races for governor and Congress – may reach 90,000.

The speaker who got the strongest applause was State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, Democratic House leader, as he hit most of the issues that motivated the audience. Fitzhugh is perceived as running second to former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, but he is the more effective public speaker.

Bob Corker and Joe Biden to be honored with leadership award

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker is being honored along with former Vice President Joe Biden this Wednesday, May 23, by Freedom House with a joint leadership award. Corker as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has highlighted the 27 million people on the planet suffering in forced labor and sexual servitude.

Susan Edwards is strong contender as next KUB leader

Mintha Roach is retiring from KUB at the end of the year, and several internal people are being mentioned as her replacement. The end of May is the deadline to apply. The full KUB board will act as the search committee, which means all interviews will be open to the public. Susan Edwards, wife of Chamber CEO Mike Edwards and current senior vice president, is seen as a strong contender. Like Roach, she once worked for city government.

Mintha Roach, President and CEO of Knoxville Utilities Board, gives the keynote address during the 2016 News Sentinel Academic Achievers banquet presented by U.S. Cellular at the Knoxville Convention Center on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel)

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero accepts from KUB President and CEO Mintha Roach the First Fleet Award at KUB’s publicly accessible compressed natural gas fueling station on June 13. The presentation acknowledges the city’s leadership in alternative fuel use and was part of the “From-Sea-to-Shining-Sea” Natural Gas Vehicle Road Rally Across America. Submitted

Former N.J. Governor Christine Todd Whitman, left, and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, right, listen as Mintha Roach, president of the Knoxville Utilities Board, center, shares how she becomes an "accidental CEO" during a panel discussion on women and leadership at the Baker Center on the University of Tennessee campus on Thursday, April 26, 2012. Seven women panelists shared advice and anecdotes from their careers. News Sentinel

David Rankin, Chairman of the Baptist Board of Trustees (right), Janice James, Interim CEO of Baptist (center) and Mintha Roach, Chairwoman of St. Mary's Board of Trustees talk during a press conference about finalizing a proposed merger of the two health systems in 2007. News Sentinel

Knoxville's top executive women from left are Pam Fansler of First Tennessee Bank, Mintha Roach of the Knoxville Utilities Board, Sharon Miller of the Trust Company, and Debra London of St. Mary's Health System in 2006. Saul Young/News Sentinel

KUB President and CEO Mintha Roach and KUB Senior VP and COO Bill Elmore review system maps in 2004 at the Ed Hoskins Operations Center. Roach is the first woman to lead KUB and is one of only three women in the nation to head a public utility. She was promoted from the position of chief administrative officer and has served at KUB more than 10 years. News Sentinel

Mayor Bill Haslam, center, talks with Mintha Roach, president and CEO of KUB, during a lucheon at KUB headquarter in the Millers Building downtown in 2004. City council members were invited to a lucheon with KUB officials for a general "meet and greet." News Sentinel

Mintha Roach, sits during a meeting following the death of president and CEO Larry Fleming in 2003, while listening to board members read a statement together naming her acting president and CEO of KUB. News Sentinel

Mintha Roach, who was named acting president and CEO of KUB after the death of president and CEO Larry Fleming in 2003, gets a hug from board member Samuel McKenzie following a meeting at the KUB offices in downtown Knoxville. News Sentinel

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Edwards turned 51 this month and would likely lead KUB for 13 years or more if she were named. KUB over the years has preferred CEOs who will be around for 12 or more years. Her position brings her into contact with most aspects of KUB. The salary for the next CEO will likely exceed $250,000 a year. We will know by June 1 who has applied.

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KUB president speaks about customer service
Knoxville

Alan Carmichael, 71, was honored recently by the Knoxville chapter of the American Marketing Association as the outstanding marketing professional of the year. With over 200 in attendance, Carmichael said marketing is at the center of commerce and praised local firms as being uniquely suited to do the work locally. Carmichael, married to Cynthia Moxley, is considered an astute media specialist.

This column failed to mention last week that Democratic legislative candidate Greg Mackay, 63, is opposed in the primary by Joshua Gregory, 29. They are running for the District 18 seat currently held by state Rep. Martin Daniel, who is unopposed in the GOP primary. No more than 2,600 people are likely to vote in this district primary.

Birthdays

May 24 – Well liked columnist and author Sam Venable is 71. South College President Steve South is 59. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) is 69. Former UT trustee Ann Furrow, who was the first woman to serve on the UT board, is 73.

May 25 – Former Vice Mayor Duane Grieve is 72. Former Leadership Knoxville head Jeannie Dulaney is 66. Former state Rep. Gloria Johnson is 56. Knoxville attorney and Claims Commissioner Bill Young is 68.

May 26 – Deputy to Mayor Rogero Bill Lyons is 70. City Council member Seema Singh Perez is 51.